Thursday, March 8, 2012

Perspective...

'We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are..."It’s always fascinated me how reality differs depending on one’s perspective…
How my view of a person, a situation, or an event can be perfectly clear to meYet seemingly just as perfectly clear – albeit completely different- to anotherWhen we talk to another person about the person or situation it’s as if
we are looking through two different windows yet with the same view…
I suppose that it’s rather that the window is the same
but it’s actually the view that’s different…It’s as if each of us creates a different reality
a different way in which we make sense of the world we notice
in how we process what we see, hear, and feel

I really like the philosophical debate over whether it's the window the same but the view is different or if it's the view is the same and the window that is different. I can see valid points for both arguments...but I think you bring up a great point by pointing out that the window can be seen as being both our physical senses and collection of memories and how that influences our perspective. I hadn't thought of it that way...

Re: this subject. One thing I've learned is that just because I see things differently from someone else, that doesn't mean either of us have to be wrong.

When we have that perspective, we can all fit in together.

The more I learn, the more I'm aware that I don't know much. One concern I have is placing too much emphasis on our cognitive abilities. There's much to be said for respecting our reptilian, non-linear brain. Our mind can smother this part of me, causing me to not be aware of what I'm sensing, much to my detriment.

Actually a coworker of mine told me that you could search blogs on here by subject so I was searching poetry blogs and yours was there! I made mine searchable yesterday and some of my followers found me that way as well.

Great blog, and thank you for your positive comment on my blog! When I look at the beautiful photo of this tree on your post, I focus on the sunlight shining through, and I find this image soothing. Another may see it as a desolate, barren tree and focus on the darkness instead. Yet another may see the intrigue of both the light and dark and how they play off each other. There are many windows and many views, on any given day. :)

I often think about this idea of perspective when I encounter someone who seems to have all the answers - they who only possess one single view out of the countless ones existing. It can make you feel small but also big, because no one will ever be able to view existence quite the same as you do.

You bring up an excellent point when you say that noone will be ever be able to view existence the way that we do as individuals...I suppose, in essence, that there are over 6 billion prisms through which to view the world.

I just got your comment on my blog. Thank you!! I'm still reading through yours :) (even though I should be working). But I couldn't agree with this post more. Something I have learned about myself is that I have a hard time sticking to my reality - holding firm to MY view. Because there are always multiple views to one situation, and I sway according to other people's views, even if it's forsaking my own well-being or my own truth. I am trying to hold more firm to MY reality. ... Hmm.. that probably didn't make much sense. Well, maybe it did if you read my blog post. Anyway, thank you Mr. O.E!

This makes me wonder how much of what we see is actually the reality of the situation, and how much is just our view. I guess the good thing about having a 'limited' perspective is that this enables us to change, learn, and add to our perspective. It is also interesting how drastically our perspective of someone can change based on their actions. I guess what I am trying to say is that when we are with another person, we are always seeing who they are through our own eyes, and this forms an opinion. And when you think of this person, the qualities that come to mind are all aspects of the person that your own mind attached to them... after all someone else could have a completely different opinion about the same person. An example of this from my life would be how some people have viewed me as shy, and other people as really outgoing. I guess the more we get to know someone perhaps the more our perspective grows and perhaps the more correct it becomes. I personally believe the more broad the perspective and less limited we view the closer to the truth we become. After all this is a multifaceted world! I hope this made sense. Great post by the way! :)